Protecting Our Local Workforce

The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology advanced 10 bipartisan artificial intelligence (AI) bills, including H.R. 9334, the Workforce for Artificial Intelligence Trust Act, which Congresswoman Sykes successfully amended to expand federal research on the impacts of AI on the workforce and economy. The amendment adds research areas that contribute to understanding how AI affects jobs, local economies, and consumers. The amendment ensures that we fully understand the impacts AI development will have on our workforce and our economy. Ohio's 13th Congressional District offers a cautionary tale for us if we do not consider the workforce when considering AI innovation. Understanding how AI will impact the workforce will help us prevent job loss and economic disruption while ensuring the benefits of this technology reach working families. Akron’s transition from the Rubber Capital of the World to today’s advanced polymer and engineering economy is evidence that innovation must be paired with investments in workers. Congresswoman Sykes also brought up her concerns about predictive pricing, which uses AI and consumer data to make people pay the highest price possible. As families are already facing increased costs, it is important that we understand how artificial intelligence could affect jobs, wages, and expenses. During the markup, Congresswoman Sykes also called for additional research into the effects of artificial intelligence, social media, and digital platforms on youth mental health and suicide prevention. She highlighted the story of James T. Woods, a 17-year-old from Streetsboro, Ohio, who died after being targeted in an online sextortion scheme, and urged the Committee to better understand how emerging technologies affect young people and families in order to prevent future tragedies.